There are significant improvements planned for the Baikonur launch facility (in Kazakhstan, but controlled by Russia) ahead of the planned series of launches for the ‘mega-constellation’ of OneWeb satellites.

Russian news agency Sputnik reports that floors in the main assembly hall and testing facility are being replaced in order to limit dust and improve air quality. the facility’s ventilation system and electricity are being examined by the specialists, according to the source.

The report also confirms that OneWeb’s Baikonur launches will only take place “six months after a qualification launch” of the first of OneWeb’s satellites – expected from French Guiana in mid-February 2019.

OneWeb’s initial plans call for some 900 satellites to be orbited to provide a global broadband service from satellite.

Other posts by Chris Forrester:

1. Bank: “Starlink 18 months ahead on D2D”
2. AST SpaceMobile trims satellite demand
3. Amazon’s Kuiper-1 launch brought forward
4. SES and Eutelsat possibly in line for C-band $bn bonus
5. Consultant: “European satellite mergers are failing”
6. Ligado attempts to unravel Inmarsat L-band agreement
7. SpaceX complains over South Africa investment rules
8. Vodafone, AST test video call game changer
9. Eutelsat shares hit all time low

Categories: Blogs, Broadband, Inside Satellite, Satellite